Int Urol Nephrol: Procollagen C protease enhancer-1 and renal failure in multiple myeloma

Renal involvement is present in approximately 50% of multiple myeloma (MM) cases in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and is associated with
a poor prognosis.
Procollagen C-Protease Enhancer 1 (PCPE-1), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, has been shown to increase collagen production and aid in the fibrosis process by enhancing the activity of procollagen-C protease (PCP) involved in collagen fiber production
.
Therefore, a research team explored
the relationship between PCPE-1 and kidney function in myeloma patients.

The study was a cross-sectional study that included a total of 81 adults, including 61 patients diagnosed with MM and 20 healthy controls, of whom patients with MM with renal impairment (RI) were classified as "MM-RI(+)" and those without RI were classified as "MM-RI(−)"
.

Median serum PCPE-1 levels were 10.
7 (5.
0-39.
4) ng/mL for the entire study population, 9.
9 (5.
0-13.
6) ng/mL for the control group, 10.
0 (6.
4-22.
5) ng/mL for the MM-RI(+) group, and 11.
4 (8.
1-39.
4) ng/mL
for the MM-RI(+) group.
There was a statistically significant difference between the control group and the MM-RI (+) group (p <0.
013).

PCPE-1 levels were inversely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum albumin, and hemoglobin levels, but positively correlated
with serum creatinine and CRP levels throughout the study population.
In patients with MM, only serum phosphorus and β-2-microglobulin (β2M) were positively correlated
with PCPE-1.
PCPE-1 levels were not affected
by other parameters throughout the study population and MM group.

Overall, this study on the fibrotic process in myeloma kidneys did not identify PPE-1 as a diagnostic marker for myeloma renal failure
.
Although serum PPE-1 levels were higher in the MM-RI (+) group, they were thought to be associated
with low GFR reflecting nonspecific kidney injury.
Given the possible role of epithelial-mesenchymal conversion and associated fibril molecules in myeloma-associated kidney injury, PCPE1 may also be involved in this process
.
Prospective studies of large numbers of patients with long-term follow-up may provide firmer results
on the role of ppe-1 in the mm-associated RI process.

Original source:

Bayrakci, N.
, Özkan, G.
, Akpinar, S.
 et al.
 Procollagen C-proteinase enhancer-1 and renal failure in multiple myeloma.
 Int Urol Nephrol 54, 3033–3038 (2022).
https://doi.
org/10.
1007/s11255-022-03378-z

。